Automatic controlling device.



PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

J. S. COLE.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1903.

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No. 755,563. PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

, J. S. COLE. AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1903.

W m um 0% m 3 i No. 755,563. PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904. J. S. COLE.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING DBVIGB.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented March 22, 1904.

PATENT ()FFICE.

JACOB SNYDER COLE, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,563, dated March 22, 1904:.

Application filed July 15, 1903- Serial No. 165,558- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ACOB SNYDER COLE, a citizen of the United States of America, resid ing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in automatic stopping devices for electric traveling and hoisting cranes, and more particularly to those which are adapted to be used in connection with electrically-operated cranes, elevators, hoists, and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide protection to certain parts of the crane and prevent the same being damaged by the contact of the block engaging therewith as the same is carried upwardly and its chain wound upon the drum or shaft of the trolley.

Another object of the invention is to pro' vide novel means whereby when the blocks have been raised or lowered to a predetermined point the electric operating means will be short-circuited, thus stopping the crane or hoist from further raising or lowering the blocks.

In the operation of cranes or hoists, especially those operated by electricity, it is frequently common for the operator to neglect to reverse the crane at the proper time so as to prevent the contact of the block with certain parts of the trolley. The neglect to check this operation often causes serious damage and loss, as well as the loss of lives, and it is the object of this device to obviate the danger incurred by such neglect. This device is adapted to be connected to the drum-shaft of the trolley andwhen the block has reached a predetermined point is adapted to automatically shunt the current through the field to short-circuit the armature, so that the drum shaft will cease to rotate and a further upwardor downward movement of the block Will be prevented. When used in connection with hoists where it is desired to elevate or lower the block a predetermined distance only, this device may be readily adjusted so that when the predetermined height to which the block is to be elevated has been reached the reverse movement will be imparted by the operator to the motor, so as to lower the block until the predetermined point to which it is to be lowered has been reached, when it will be again reversed by the operator so as to impart an upward movement to the block. Briefly described, the invention comprises a device which is adapted to be carried by the trolley of a crane, either connected direct to the drum-shaft of the trolley or geared thereto, as will be found convenient in adapting the device to the different constructions of crane. This device is operated by the rotation of thedrum-shaft, whereby the contact bars 'or arms of the device will be so operated as to short-circuit the current and prevent the block from traveling past the predetermined poiht.

TWith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the device. Fig. 3 is an end view of the standards. Fig. A is a view illustrating the device as applied to the drum-shaft of a crane or hoist which is electrically operated. Fig. 5 is diagrammatical view showing the Wiring of my improved device, and Fig. 6 is a modified form of brush which may be employed upon the device.

To put my invention into practice, I construct a device comprising a cast-iron base 1, which upon its one end 2 carries the vertical standards 3, and intermediate of said base is provided the standards 4, which are secured to the base by means of the screws 5, the upper ends of these standards supporting an insulation-plate 5, said plate being secured on the standards by means of screws 6. Upon this plate is mounted the short-circuit mech- I 0 anism, which comprises the segments 7 7 7 7 7 7 these segments being made of copper and secured to the insulation-plate by means of the screws 8. The segment indicated by the reference-numeral 7 is preferably made of fiber or other insulation, thus affording an insulated portion, the object of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Secured to the insulation-plate 5 by means of the bolt and nuts 10 is the angle springsupport 11, to the upper end of which is attached, by means of rivets or bolts 14, a spring 12, and this spring may be made of any desired shape to suit the machine. Upon the other end of the insulation-plate is secured the brush-holder arm 15, which is carried by the block 16, said block being secured to the plate 5 by means of bolt 17 and nuts 18. The one end of this brush-holder arm is formed with prongs 19 19 and is offset intermediate its ends, as indicated at 20, and extends outwardly parallel to the central axis of the arm, and in its outer end is pivoted the roller 21 by means of the rivet 22, and when the device is in its normal position this roller is adapted to be engaged by the spring 12, the convex sides 23 of the spring normally holding this arm in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, whereby the same will be prevented from vibrating. At the offset portion of the arm springs 24: are connected to the pivot 25, the other ends of said springs being connected to posts 26 on the insulation-plate 5. The purpose of these springs is to return the arm to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 1. Connected to this arm and insulated therefrom by insulation 27 is the brush-holder 27, which comprises the three sockets or boxes 28, which support the brushes 29 29*29", which are preferably made of carbon. This brushholder is secured to the brush-arm by means of the screws 30 or in any other desired manner, and the brush-holder is preferably made of brass or other conducting material.

Connected to the under face of the insulation-plate 5 are the terminals, which are preferably made of brass or other good conducting material, these terminals being indicated by reference-numerals 31, 32, 33, 3a, 35, and 36, the terminals 31 and 32 being located near the outer edges of the plate 5 and advantageously secured by the screws 37 38, which fasten segments 7 7 to the plate 5, while the terminals 33, 34, and 35 are located beneath the central segments 7 7 7 and the terminal 36 is located beneath the end of the segment 7. These terminals may be connected to the insulation-plate 5 by any desired means, and in the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the same as being connected by the screws or bolts which hold the segments upon the plate 5'. In Fig. 6 I show a modified form of brush holder, in which the box or frame 28 carries a spring 28", the free end of which bears upon the brush 28to hold the latter in firm engagement with its segment. This brush-holder is secured to and insulated from the arm 15 in the same mannor as shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 5 of the drawings 1 have illustrated the wiring of the device, and the reference-numerals a3 and A indicate the wires which lead from the generator (not shown) and the reference-nunieral &5 the switch whereby the device may be cut out from the general circuit of the trolley. The wire 14 leads from generator (not shown) to the resistance 16, to bar 14' of the reverseswitch 44:, from whence wire 17 leads to terminal 31, carried by the segment portion 7, over brush 29, to brush-holder 27, to brush 29, engagingsegmcnt 7 through resistance 7 to segment 7 to terminal 34, over wire 48, through the field 53, over wire 52', through switch 45, and over wire &3 to generator. The circuit just described is the short circuit whereby the armature is short-circuitcd to cause the motor to cease operation, and this may be for the extreme lower position at which the device is to shunt the circuit or for the extreme upper position in which the circuit is shunted.

I will now describe the position of the parts and the manner in which the circuit is shunted for the opposite extreme position to that described above. This circuit would be from wire 1 1, leading from generator, (not shown) through switch 15, through resistance M5 to bar 4 1" of reverse-switch 4124: (assuming switch to have been reversed) over wire 51 to terminal 32 of segment 7", over brush 29, brushholder 27, to brush 29, through segment 7 terminal 33, to resistance '7, to terminal 36, through segment 7 to terminal 3%, and thence through wire 48, through held 53, and through wire 53', switch 15, and wire 43 to the generator.

It will be observed that the natural direction of the current would be through the armature of motor 50, returning throi'igh the field 53 and out to the generator. l'Vith the circuit as described it will be noted that the shunting thereof sends the entire current through the field of the motor, and to protect the field from injury through receiving the entire current of the motor I employ the resistance 7, which serves the purpose of reducing the current in the field to its normal capacity. The one position of the arm 15 therefore operates to shunt the circuit in the upper position of the hoist, and the other position of the arm shunts the circuit in the lower position of the hoist to stop the hoisting mechanism from further movement in the direction to which the brush-arm is set.

In Figs. 2, 3, and 4. of the drawings I have illustrated a part of a crane or hoist in which the drum 54 has its shaft 58 geared to the motor by means of gears 55 57and pinions 56 56, the said pinions being carried on shaft 56. To the one end of the drum-shaft 58 is secured, by means of the coupling 59, the shaft 60, which is supported Within the standards 3 of the base 1. This coupling is secured to the shaft 60 by the key or spline 61, and upon this shaft is mounted the pinion 62 and the gear-wheel 63, and meshing with the pinion 62 is the large gear-wheel 64;, carried upon the shaft 65, mounted in the standards 3, and upon the outer end of this shaftI provide the pinion 66, which meshes with the gear-wheel 63. This wheel 63 upon its one side is cut away, as indicated at 64: to receive the angled end 65 of the bolt 67, said bolt being carried by the brass arm 67, which is secured upon the stub end 68 of the shaft 60. The outer end of the arm 67 carries a projecting lug 69, formed at right angles to the arm, said lug being adapted to be engaged by the prongs 19 19 of the brush-arm 15. I also provide a disk 70, which is mounted on the shaft 60 and secured to the wheel 63 by the screws 71, said plate holding the angled end 65 of the bolt within the cut-away portion 6 L of the wheel, thus preventing the same from becoming disengaged therefrom.

In practice the device will be included within a suitable case or hood 7 2, as illustrated in Fig. 4: of the drawings, whereby the same will be thoroughly protected from dust or dirt or otherwise injured.

The operation of my improved device is as follows: Assuming that all the parts are in position, the shaft 60 being connected up to the drum-shaft 58 and this shaft is revolving, the wheel 64 will be rotated, carrying the arm 67, which is brought into engagement with the arm 15 when the predetermined point has been reached, and the brush-arm will be turned to one side, whereby the motor will be short-circuited and the trolley ceases to move. The short-circuiting of the motor or shunting of the motor-circuit and the consequent stoppage of the rotation of the drum prevents the block from being drawn up into the trolley and the parts thereof damaged, as would be the case if the block was permitted to continue to move upward. When the current has been thus shunted and the motor short-circuited and the movement of the drum stopped and it is desired to start the drum in the opposite direction, the operator handling the crane or hoist reverses the controller, reversing the direction of the current and the direction of rotation of the motor-armature. The reversing of the current, and consequent reversing of the direction of rotation of the motor-armature, causes gears 68 to rotate in the reverse direction, and as arm 67 engages with prongs 19 or 19', as the case may be, the brush-arm 15 is returned to its normal position, where it is held by springs 28 and 2a 24. The brush-arm remains in the natural or normal position until the limit of travel is reached again, when it is shifted to the angular position, as aforedescribed, to shunt the motor-circuit and short-circuit the motor.

In Fig. 4: of the drawings I have illustrated the device as connected direct to the drumshaft, while it is obvious that I may gear the same to this shaft and locate the device in any convenient position upon the trolley. In Fig. 5 of the drawings the direction of the current is illustrated by the arrows when the motor is short-circuited by the device heretofore described, and when the controller is reversed the current in the motor assumes its normal direction.

It will be observed that in the construction of the device various changes may be required, according to the nature of the apparatus to which the device is to be attached, and such changes may be made without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi 1. In an automatic controlling apparatus, the combination with a rotatable shaft, of mechanism including an insulation-plate, segments mounted on said plate, an oscillatory brush-arm mounted on the said plate, brushes carried by said arm for engagement with the segments, a driving-motor having its armature and field-coils arranged in parallel and its armature shaft geared to the rotatable shaft, an electrical circuit from the drivingmotor to the segments, and means between the brush-arm and the driving-motor for engagement with the arm to shift the position of the latter and shunt the electric current wholly from the armature through the fieldcoils to stop the driving-motor, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rotatable shaft and a driving-motor therefor having its armature and field-coils in series, of a circuit-shunting mechanism connected to the circuit of said motor and including an oscillatory brush-arm and means interposed between the brush-arm and driving-motor, including a rotary member, for operating said brush-arm to shift the position of the same and shunt the current from the armature to the field-coils, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rotatable shaft, a drivingmotor geared thereto and an electric circuit connected to said motor and including a brusharm, and means connected to the rotatable shaft, for engagement with said brush-arm to move the same and shunt the circuit of said motor so as to shunt the current from the armature through the field-coils at a predetermined time, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, a rotatable shaft, a driving-motor geared to said shaft, an electric circuit connected with the motor, an oscillating arm for controlling said circuit, and a circuit-shunting device connected to the rotatable shaft, said shunting device comprising separate contacts connected re spectively t0 the field-coils and both brushes of the armature and a resistance between the field-coil contacts for shunting the circuit to said motor at a predetermined time, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rotatable shaft and a driving-motor geared to said shaft, of mechanism connected to said shaft and in circuit with the motor for shunting the latter at a predetermined time, an oscillatory brush-arm included in said mechanism, rotary means moving with said shaft for engagement with said arm to move the same into position to shunt the circuit, and means for normally holding the arm in its circuit-completing position, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination with a driven shaft, a d rivingmotor geared to said shaft, and a circuit to said motor, of means including an oscillatory brush-arm and separate contacts for shunting the motor-current wholly from the armature through the field-coils for controlling said circuit to stop the motor, mechanical means between said brush-arm and the motor for shifting the brush-arm into position for controlling the circuit, and means for normally holding the brush-arm in its circuit-completing position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JACOB SNYDER COLE.

\Vitnesses:

A. M. XVILsoN, E. E. POTTER. 

